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Don’t think that Past Cure will become the next cult classic, like Deadly Premonition. This is a whole different level of bad. Past Cure attempts to be too many things at once. The developer’s ambition outweighs their ability to execute it effectively. The game’s lofty aspirations are commendable and, at the very least, it is playable. Still, it is a shame that Past Cure doesn’t amount to the titles from which it poorly borrows so many of its ideas.
Being able to use unorthodox characters like Yami from Yu-Gi-Oh! is certainly quite unique, but Jump Force’s barren world barely takes advantage of these opportunities due to lacking gameplay and what feels like too much of a ripoff of Dragon Ball Xenoverse without bringing anything refreshing to the table.
State of Decay 2 is a moderate upgrade from its predecessor, providing an expanded environment and the heavily-requested cooperative play. What begins as a genuine care for the community of unique individuals assembled under an ever-developing roof quickly becomes a tedious venture to endure glitches that are more frightening than the undead wandering the streets. Staying one step ahead of the game’s issues becomes more of a focal point than actually enjoying what the game set out to do. After some much needed tender loving care from Undead Labs, State of Decay 2 may eventually become a zombie apocalypse simulator worth your time.
Combining the well received Until Dawn and PSVR yet again, this time not on rails, The Inpatient seemed like a great idea in thought, but it ends up being a disappointment for the most part. The Inpatient itself is only about two hours long for one playthrough and the story and alternate outcomes really do little to make you want to come back for more.
There is definitely a giant sized hole on the Nintendo Switch where a new Super Smash Bros. game should be right now, leaving fans to look for an alternate. Brawlout definitely fits that bill as a potential fill-in for the time being, but you’re going to have to overlook a number of flaws to get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Micro Machines have been around for decades in one variation or another and Micro Machines World Series mostly disappoints in capturing the essence of the original release on NES. When the number of game options in a modern game feel like they aren’t much of an upgrade from an old NES game, you know there is a problem, which is the case with Micro Machines World Series.
Even though SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy brings together some of the best and most popular females from the SNK Universe, a creepy story mode that lacks content and an overly basic combat system relegates this game to the lower end of the fighting games of recent.
Sea of Thieves lays the groundwork for a gameplay experience unlike anything else, which could have lived up to Rare’s legacy, but it fails to fully achieve its ambitions. As it stands, the game is an empty pirate adventure that sports brief moments of delight. Sadly, these instances are fleeting and the player is quickly returned to the monotonous and repetitive quest design to pad out their pirate’s life. Sea of Thieves might one day grow into the game we all hoped for, but for now it is a far cry from its targeted experience.
Verdict Building off the foundation of Metal Gear Solid V, Metal Gear Survive had some potential that was mostly squandered, though still far from being an awful game. The co-op missions with friends can be fun and the game itself performs well enough, but the tedious structure of the game and the inclusion of awful microtransactions make Metal Gear Survive one you might want to think about skipping.
We Happy Few is a brilliant concept in a world I’m dying to explore. However, the game’s mechanics and performance problems work against that which Compulsion Games have spent so much time crafting. The run-of-the-mill survival mechanics bog down the flow of the campaign and make uncovering the narrative’s answers feel like a chore. Still, underneath it all, it is hard not to find something lovable. Given time, tweaks, and patches, We Happy Few could rise above and become the game it was always meant to be, one that would not require a Joy pill to cover its blemishes.
Serving as a spin-off of the previous two titles, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes features some of the charm and DNA of the past games, but mostly ends up as a disappointment after the years of waiting for more from this unique series.
United Front may be the most packed DLC for Call Of Duty: WWII as it not only offers one map, but essentially three zombie maps that function as an entirely new experience. The multiplayer maps are somewhat lackluster except for well put together set pieces. It’s standard fare. It functions how players have come to expect without trying to re-invent the wheel. The same sadly goes for the War Mode map, Operation Supercharge, which had the most momentum coming off a stellar experience in the previous DLC outing. If you are a fan of Nazi Zombies, United Front could very well be a must have for you and your friends for the challenge alone.
The idea of an online focused Naruto game seemed like a good idea, but a mostly bare bones approach and small scale feel holds Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker back from being a great game. If Soleil can refine many of the game's elements and build upon it however, a sequel for this could be very interesting in the future.
Onrush takes an established genre and drives it down a new path. It creates an experience that is distinctly its own, but that includes a number of flaws. The Burnout-lite experience blends class-based gameplay in a handful of modes, and does so semi-successfully. Onrush has a strong premise at its core. If it adapts over time to focus more on its strengths, it may catch up to the competitive titles it set out to challenge.
Those coming from the original Dissidia Final Fantasy games on PSP are certainly going to be surprised by what ends up being a very different kind of game. The move to 3-on-3 battles isn’t a bad thing, but the overall lack of features and almost too involved combat may make you want to stay away from Dissidia Final Fantasy NT for now.
There are many resource gathering and survival based games on the market and ARK: Survival Evolved almost feels like it has officially jumped in a little too late after finally leaving Early Access. If you don’t mind spending hour after hour of doing repetitive and tedious tasks, you may find some fun in the later stages of the game. However, if that doesn’t sound worth it, ARK: Survival Evolved likely isn’t going to be for you.
If you are looking for a tried and true fighter, you can't get anymore classic than Street Fighter II. The addition of two new fighters adds some content, but not a whole lot. The real draw is the mobility of the game with the Nintendo Switch. If you are down on your luck with fighters on the new platform, there is only one choice right now and it's not half bad.
STRAFE will certainly attract a very specific crowd, likely one filled with gluttons for punishment. The core game provides a solid offering, but nostalgia and gory gunplay need a bit more to make this game rise above the monotony and frustration that settle in over time.
Gran Turismo Sport is a departure from the usual Polyphony Digital affair and presents a heavy focus on the online, one of the few aspects that is fully realized and delivers so far. The single player is what was damaged the most by the developer’s shift in priority. That is not to say it isn’t a decent game. Online players will enjoy it for months to come, especially if they plan on taking on championships and tournaments. For the rest, the tacked on single player will leave them disappointed, especially since provides a wonderful driving simulation experience. For a full retail priced game, it is hard to justify the purchase unless you know right away that you are going to be dedicated to the online mode. That is the only area wherein you will see the title’s true potential. For now, we are left hoping that a more traditional Gran Turismo installment manages to find its way on to the PlayStation 4 in the near future.
Rage 2 contains some of the best shooting of any game in 2019. Taking numerous cues from Doom, the familiar gunplay is loosed upon a more open environment. Shredding bandits and mutants never gets old, regardless of if you have a campaign-only focus or you are pushing past the 20th hour on a completionist run. The achievement set by the gunplay reveals how far below it other areas sit. The open world isn’t utilized to its fullest potential, characters (including Walker) are as forgettable as the story, and driving leaves much to be desired. Rage 2 may be considered a one-trick pony, but that single aspect is so gratifying that it carries the lesser parts on its back to the finish line.